C2-Laneaatar Fanning, Saturday, Seplambar 18, 1993 Beef Briefs mm V IT’S FALL AGAIN Earlier in the spring, we dis cussed the importance of a defined calving season on profitability in the cow-calf enterprise. Overlooking this important management feature can have a severe economic impact on the profitability of the enterprise. The upshot is that if the bull is still out with the cows, you are the big loser in lower calf weights, complica tions with a health program, and nutritional problems with the herd. Fall is the period when the sec ond most important step can be taken determination of pre gnancy in the cow herd. Seventy five to 90 days after the bull has been pulled (or when the breeding season should be over) is probably the most effective time for this practice. Since most people ate not trained in pregnancy detection, a veterinarian will need to be called in. It will not be necessary to put the LAND PRIDE Productive Planting from the Seeding Experts Land Pride quality and Great Plains grain drill technology is built into this rugged and productive Primary Seeder. Used for planting a wide variety of grass seed in prepared seedbeds, this tool is designed for low maintenance and easy of use. Features are built-in to assure you of a top quality planting job and top quality results. PENNSYLVANIA itraley Farm Supply, Inc. 1760 East Canal Road Dover, PA 17315 717-292-2631 Keller Brothers R 7 Box 405 Lebanon, PA 17042 717-949-6501 1950 Fruilville Pike Lancaster, PA 17601 717-569-2500 Marshall Machinery, Inc. Route 642 Honesdale, PA 18431 717-729-7117 Pikevllle Equipment Inc. RD 2, Oyslerdale Road Oley, PA 19547 215-987-6277 Tractor Parts Co. 335 Central Road Bloomsburg, PA 17815 717-784-0250 by John Comerford Penn State Beef Specialist cows through the chute only for a preg check. The fall vaccination program, deworming, grub and lice control, replacing ear tags, condition scoring, and physical exams of the cow herd can all be done at this time. In addition, pre sale vaccinations, sorting replace ment heifers, and leftover castra tions can be made with the calves. Why is pregnancy detection so important? Simply this an open cow allowed to stay in the herd will never catch up again. That is, the cost of keeping a cow around for another 18-20 months before she returns anything to the enterprise far exceeds her ability to produce enough weaning weight to pay for it. With all costs considered, extensive records show it costs about $3OO-$4OO to maintain a cow for a year. The majority of the cost comes from harvested and supplemental feeds just the inputs an open cow will be using in the next 8 months. Allowing Stouffer Bros. Inc. 1066 Lincoln Way West Chambersburg, PA 17201 717-263-8424 Stoltzfus Farm Service Cochranville, PA 215-593-2407 M.S. Ycarsley & Sons West Chester, PA 215-696-2990 Norman D. Clark & Son, Inc. Honey Grove, PA 717-734-3682 Loysville, PA 717-789-3117 Nicarry Equipment Co. RD 2. Rt. 61. 3 Miles S. of Leesport, Reading, PA 215-926-2441 “another chance” means she has effectively used up $6OO-$7OO of your money before she sells another calf. Even in die best of times, most cows are not capable of producing that much income in single year. What are the alternatives? Sell her. She already ate your grass all summer, so get something back to pay for it (Grass is cheap feed, but it is not free.) Replace her with a bred heifer. A cull cow is wrath about $5OO-600 in today’s market. Add it up: you sell a cow for $6OO now and a calf out of the heifer (assum ing an 80 percent chance of selling a calf in any year) for $3OO and you have total receipts of about $9OO. The heifer will cost you about $l,OOO to buy and keep until next fall, so the loss is about $lOO instead of $3OO. Trading $lOO for $3OO sounds pretty good, even to a Ph.D. Texas researcher John McNeill recently reported on a retained ownership program he is supervis ing. Under this program, ranchers are retaining ownership on of Deerfield Ag & Turf Center, Inc. RR 2 Box 212 Watsontown, PA 17777 717-538-3557 NEW JERSEY 1 Caldwell Tractor & Equipment, Inc. 480 U.S. Route 46 Fairfield. NJ. 07006 201-227-6772 Rodlo Tractor Sale* North White Horse Pike Hammonton, N.J. 08037 609-561-0141. Frank Rymon & Sons, Inc. RD 3, Box 355 Washington, N.J. 07882 201-689-1464 Reed Brothers Petticoat Bridge Rd. Columbus. N.J. 08022 609-267-3363 The Missing Link Low Rate Financing rillS Up To 48 Months! Mixing T.M.R. the Way You Want Tumble Mixers * Tumble mixing phis a central spiral circulator moving Ingredients to the back of the drum while filling moves ingredients forward ' No Internal bearings. * Low maintenance only 3 grease fittings. 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Another striking feature is that the range in profitability was about $2BO per steer. Some ranchers lost over $lOO per head, while others Somerset Farmers Association To Meet SOMERSET (Somerset Co.) The 706-member Somerset Coun ty Farmers’ Association will hold its annual meeting Thursday, Sep tember 30 at 7 p.m. at the Berlin Community Building. The agenda will include the election of three directors for the board, one delegate for the Penn sylvania Farm Cureau/Farmers’ Association held in November, Open-Top Mixers . Four notched augers mix fast-even square-baled dry alfalfa In limited amounts. . Self-aligning auger bearings mounted outside. Flanged auger tubes for easy removal. . Planetary gear reducer and roller chain reduction power the augers. Roller chains operate In sealed oil bath. • On trailer models, the discharge door and discharge augers are controlled hydraulically had profits over $lBO per steer. I talked with John personally about this, and he said the reason some people made more money than others had nothing to do with price or feed, but it had to do with the kind of management the calves got before they got to the feedlot. In particular, those ranchers that woe using good genetics and had a sound health program were the ones who made the most money. Does that sound familiar? and discussion of and voting on policy resolution. Ticket prices are $3.50 per member, $1.75 for child 10 and under, and $6.50 for non-mem bers. Send reservations and correct dollar amount to Deb Rohrbaugh, R.D.#l Box 274 A, Somerset, PA 15501 by September 27. No tick ets will be sold at the door. Thinking Manure Auger? 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Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers